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Rights and Freedoms
14 December 2012SpeechUSING THE LAW TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE Graeme Innes AM (2007)
Scarlett Finney was only six when she saw the brochures for the Hills Grammar School, set in park-like grounds in Sydney's outer suburbs. She indicated her keenness to attend "the school in the bush". Her parents were prepared to pay the fees, and saw the setting and curriculum as providing her with a great education. But the school refused her enrolment due to the… -
Disability Rights
29 June 2015PublicationGuidelines for Providers of Insurance and Superannuation
The Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (the "DDA") aims, as far as possible, to promote the rights of people with a disability to participate equally in all areas of life. It does this by making it unlawful to discriminate against a person with a disability, subject to a number of exceptions intended to balance the rights of people with disabilities with those of other persons. … -
Commission – General
14 December 2012SpeechPresident speeches: The Potential Role of National Human Rights Institutions in the Pacific
This paper advocates that National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) have a very valuable role to play in the Pacific, and that the promotion and protection of human rights in the Pacific would benefit immensely by Pacific nations each establishing a NHRI. -
14 December 2012Book page
Native Title Report 2004 : Chapter 1 : The Consultations
During the 2004 reporting period I have embarked on a series of consultations focusing on the ideas and principles that were contained in a Discussion Paper, released by my predecessor as Social Justice Commissioner in June 2003. The Discussion Paper was entitled Promoting Economic and Social Development through Native Title (at Annexure 1). This chapter seeks to record and develop the ideas and… -
Commission – General
14 December 2012Speech
President speeches: The influence of human rights on judicial decision-making
May I acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora nation, the traditional owners of the land upon which we meet, and pay my respect to their elders past and present. -
Legal
14 December 2012WebpageCommission submissions - In support of the application by the ACTU for Parental Leave
If the Commission pleases I appear before your honours to make a submission on behalf of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission in support of the application made by the ACTU. -
14 December 2012Book page
Native Title Report 2008 - Chapter 7
Over the millennia, Indigenous peoples have developed a close and unique connection with the lands and environments in which they live. They have established distinct systems of knowledge, innovation and practices relating to the uses and management of biological diversity on these lands and environments. -
Sex Discrimination
28 January 2020Publication
Respect@Work: Sexual Harassment National Inquiry Report (2020)
Workplace sexual harassment is prevalent and pervasive: it occurs in every industry, in every location and at every level, in Australian workplaces. -
15 July 2014Book page
Chapter 4: Human rights in practice – alcohol policy
4.1 Introduction Alcohol consumption, misuse and related harm are some of the most challenging issues confronting communities across the length and breadth of Australia. These challenges are not limited to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, but confront every demographic in Australian cities and towns. From Kings Cross to Halls Creek, St Kilda to Santa Teresa – communities… -
14 December 2012Book page
Native Title Report 2003 : Chapter 1
Australia is a wealthy nation. In 2003, Australia ranked fourth in the United Nations Human Development Index (1) indicating Australians enjoyed one of the highest qualities of life in the world. Overall, Australia ranks equal fourth with the highest life expectancy at birth (79.0 years) suggesting Australians are among the healthiest people in the world. (2) -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Submission - REVIEW OF THE OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY (COMMONWEALTH EMPLOYMENT) ACT 1991 (2006)
1. The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) welcomes the opportunity to make this submission to the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations on the review of the Occupational Health and Safety (Commonwealth Employment) Act 1991 (the Act). -
14 December 2012Book page
Native Title Report 2002: Extinguishment of Native Title
The two recent High Court decisions in Miriuwung Gajerrong [1] and Wilson v Anderson [2] have clarified some important issues regarding the extinguishment of native title under the Native Title Act 1993 (Cwlth) (‘NTA’) and its relationship with extinguishment under the common law. They also provide some important insights into the meaning of discrimination as it responds… -
Rights and Freedoms
11 May 2016Speech
Human rights across the Tasman: a widening gulf
I am honoured to have been invited to give this lecture at the Law School of the University of Canterbury, funded by the generosity of the Sir Eric Hotung Fellowship. While I had settled the subject matter of this lecture, I thought it would be helpful to know what other Hotung Fellows had discussed in previous years. I looked at last year’s lecture and was pleased to see that Professor… -
Commission – General
3 September 2018Publication
Human Rights & Climate Change (2008)
Climate change will have significant impacts in both Australia and across the globe. Australia is one of the most arid continents in the world. It is vulnerable to risks such as disruptions to water supply; increases in the severity of storms, floods and droughts, coastal erosion due to sea level rise; and to negative human health impacts, for example through an increase in the range and spread… -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Commission Submission Amicus Curiae - Howe v Qantas
However, if appropriate, and with leave of the Court, the Commissioner reserves the right to make further submissions on legal matters which may arise during the hearing of this matter and after receipt of the respondent’s particularised points of defence. No submissions are to be made in relation to the evidentiary and factual matters that may arise for determination. -
Legal
26 March 2015Submission
Inquiry into the Commonwealth’s Treaty-Making Process
Download PDF Download Word 1 Introduction and summary The Australian Human Rights Commission makes this submission to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee in its Inquiry into the Commonwealth’s Treaty-Making Process. The Commission is established by the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 (Cth) and is Australia’s national human rights institution with an… -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Inquiry into the Migration Amendment (Health Care for Asylum Seekers) Bill 2012 (2012)
The Australian Human Rights Commission makes this submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committees in the Inquiry into the Migration Amendment (Health Care for Asylum Seekers) Bill 2012. -
15 July 2014Book page
Chapter 1: How far have we come? Looking back on 20 years of the Social Justice Commissioner role
1.1 Introduction This year marks 20 years since the establishment of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner (Social Justice Commissioner) role under the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 (Cth). When I first started in this position I was asked if any of the previous Commissioners had left any words or notes of advice. I answered them ‘no, but they all… -
29 January 2013Book page
Appendix J – Examples of Best Practice from International Contexts
Introduction and Methodology As indicated in the body of the Report, the Review examined a range of international defence academies identified as bearing the greatest similarity to ADFA in terms of size, structure, or the wider contexts within which they functioned. [505] The Review conducted a broad ranging scan of Government and Defence Force inquiries, reports and evaluations; as well as… -
Commission – General
14 December 2012Speech
Equality before the law
In the second century AD, Marcus Aurelius, a Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher, thanked one of his brothers for teaching him to value "the conception of the state with one law for all, based upon individual equality and freedom of speech, and of a sovereignty which prizes above all things the liberty of the subject."1